Malec One-shots

Paralysis

Isabelle smiled, “do you want me to help you get into bed, Alec?” She asked cautiously. Her older brother scowled at her, “Iz, I’m perfectly capable of getting into my own bed.” He said, putting his hands on the bed, pressing down. He gripped his hands into the sheets, trying to pull himself up. He got halfway out of the wheelchair before falling forwards into a collapsed kneeling position. He cursed as Jace swooped passed his step-sister and pulled Alec off the floor and into bed. The blue-eyed boy glared at him as Jace backed away a little. “Don’t you dare tell me you weren’t struggling, Alec, because I knew you were.” He warned. “And it’s okay to say if you’re struggling. Any of would find it hard to cope in your position.” He said apologetically. Alec rolled onto his side,

“Stop acting like you feel sorry for me.” he murmured, turning off the light beside him.

Isabelle closed the door, breathing out heavily. “I didn’t think he’d act out so much…” she admitted. Jace looked at her, “He was paralysed. Of course he’s angry - he has every right to be angry, too.” he said. Isabelle bit her lip, “there has to be one way to make him feel better. Something that will make him okay to ask for help.” She said. Jace smirked,

“There is. And it’s not a something. It’s a someone.”

Alec awoke slowly, he was still tired. As his eyes open he was staring directly into someone else’s eyes. He jumped, crying out a little. The man above him – who Alec now recognised as Magnus – laughed. “Magnus?! What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?! I thought you promised to stop showing up like this!” Magnus pursed his lips,

“Oh?” he purred, “but Jace and Isabelle asked me to come.” He said. Alec through the bed sheets back, pulling himself up into a sitting position, swinging his legs over and falling to the floor. He swore loudly, yelling. Magnus ran to him, “darling are you -”

“NO I’M NOT FUCKING OKAY. I’m never going to be okay! My legs don’t bloody work, and there’s nothing I can do about it! I was stupid and reckless and I paid the price for it…” he had tears in his eyes. “I can’t do anything anymore…I’m useless. I’m a waste of space.” He muttered. Magnus put his hands firmly on his shoulders. “Alec. You’re not a waste of space. You’re not useless, and the only thing that’s stopping you doing anything is your negative attitude.” He sighed sadly, “your world never looks at those who have disabilities. Those who are paralysed, or in wheelchairs or were born without limbs. Your world tries to forget about those people because they aren’t the perfect solider physique. But the mundane world doesn’t. In the mundane world, people with disabilities are just as capable as anyone else. In the mundane world people have the freedom to peruse anything they want to do with their life and by law, they cannot be turned down or told they can’t because of a disability. As they say, when one door closes,  another opens. You may not be able to fight, but you can still benefit your world.”

“How?” Alec spat. Magnus regarded him sadly,

“I knew a man…who was hurt very badly in a fight I was also involved with. And he lost his ability to walk. Everyone else thought he was strange, but he was incredibly bright – a genius, I would say. He was one of the most intelligent men I’ve ever met. And we worked together on his idea. His idea that changed the world so drastically that you shadowhunters take for granted now. That was all because of him. He didn’t accomplish that through fighting.” Magnus said, his chest welling at the thought. He put his arms around Alec, and carefully picked him up, helping him into his wheelchair. “Who was he?” Alec asked quietly, “the man I mean.” Magnus smiled,

“Clary and Jocelyn didn’t get their red hair through a sheer fluke, let’s just say that much. Now let’s get you downstairs. Your mother said something about pancakes for breakfast.”